George Halas McCaskey is the current chairman of the NFL's Chicago Bears, who replaced his brother Michael McCaskey as chairman in 2011.
Biography
McCaskey, the eighth-oldest child of Bears owner Virginia Halas McCaskey and Ed McCaskey (who himself was a former Bears chairman), was originally an assistant state attorney in Lee and DeKalb counties. McCaskey also worked in television after graduating from Arizona State University in 1981, and was a reporter for an NBC affiliate in Peoria.He was the team's senior director of ticket operations since the Bears 1991 season,[4] and was a member of the team's board of directors since 2004.In 2011, during the NFL lockout, McCaskey's brother Michael retired as chairman of the club after 12 years. Before he assumed his position, he met with Chicago Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz, as well as White Sox and Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf, with the first NFL owner he met being Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys.
“He was very gracious, very accommodating. He’s a fascinating guy. I really enjoyed visiting with him, getting to know him. We sat in a suite at Cowboys Stadium and looked out over the field. We then went downstairs and bumped into a tour group. As soon as they saw who he was, they were going crazy. They were taking pictures and he was chatting them up.”
—McCaskey on his meeting with Jerry Jones
McCaskey and Ted Phillips both were also known for the firing of Bears general manager Jerry Angelo.
"The way I see it is in those three key hires, you evaluate the entire body of work and see whether the entire body of work merits having that person back for another season. It's not one game or one play. Again, look at the Giants. They had confidence in their people, their coach, their plan, and it bore fruit."
—McCaskey on Jerry Angelo's firing
McCaskey eventually hired former Bears area scout Phil Emery.
George Halas McCaskey became the fourth Chairman of the Board in Chicago Bears team history on May 5, 2011, following in the footsteps of grandfather, George Halas, father, Edward W. McCaskey and brother, Michael.
George is one of the 13 grandchildren – and namesake – of George Halas, the founder and patriarch of the Chicago Bears. Like his brothers and sisters, he grew up around the Bears. His first part-time job, at age 14, was as an office assistant at the team's headquarters in Chicago's Loop. He later worked for several summers as a ball boy at Bears training camp, calling it one of the best experiences of his life.
George will work to carry on the storied tradition of the Bears with a yearly goal of winning the NFL Championship, uphold the integrity and values established in the previous 92 years of the club and oversee the franchise's leadership role in the Chicagoland community.
He previously served as the team's Senior Director of Ticket Operations, working in the ticket office for 20 seasons, joining
the Bears in 1991 as Ticket Manager. He has been a member of the Bears' Board of Directors since 2004. In 2010 he also
held the duties of Vice Chairman of the team.
George attended Arizona State University, where he earned his bachelor's degree in Broadcasting in 1978 and his law degree in 1981. He passed the Illinois bar exam in 1981, but now describes himself as a "recovering lawyer." He worked in television news in Phoenix, Peoria, Tulsa and Chicago, before serving as an Assistant State's Attorney in Lee County and DeKalb County, Illinois.
In his spare time, George enjoys officiating youth sports, including baseball, soccer and basketball.
McCaskey and his wife Barb have one child, a son, Conor.
